Spray can

ABSTRACT

An actuator for a spray can is provided. The actuator includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a front side and a rear side. The actuator body includes a right planar side and a left planar side located opposite each other. The right planar side and the left planar side slant inwardly going in a forward direction. The actuator body includes a groove formed on top of the actuator body. The groove tapers inwardly going in the forward direction. The groove slopes downwardly and rearwardly. The actuator also includes a base. The actuator body is attached on the base. The actuator also includes a nozzle. The nozzle is mounted in the front side.

FIELD

This application relates to a spray can.

BACKGROUND

Spray cans can be used to spray paint. Often, a user will experience hand fatigue when spraying for a long time. The use may then switch hands to continue spraying the paint when the spraying hand becomes uncomfortable. The switching of the hands also takes time. Also, it is desirable to have the paint and other chemicals in the spray be durable, good quality and environmentally friendly.

Spray cans may benefit from improvements.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, an actuator for a spray can is provided. The actuator includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a front side and a rear side. The actuator body includes a right planar side and a left planar side located opposite each other. The right planar side and the left planar side slant inwardly going in a forward direction. The actuator body includes a groove formed on top of the actuator body. The groove tapers inwardly going in the forward direction. The groove slopes downwardly and rearwardly. The actuator also includes a base. The actuator body is attached on the base. The actuator also includes a nozzle. The nozzle is mounted in the front side.

In another aspect of the present invention, a spray can is provided. The spray can includes a can body and an actuator. The actuator is mounted on the can body. The actuator includes an actuator body. The actuator body includes a front side and a rear side. The actuator body includes a right planar side and a left planar side located opposite each other. The right planar side and the left planar side slant inwardly going in a forward direction. The actuator body includes a groove formed on top of the actuator body. The groove tapers inwardly going in the forward direction. The groove slopes downwardly and rearwardly. The actuator also includes a base. The actuator body is attached on the base. The actuator also includes a nozzle. The nozzle is mounted in the front side.

Other aspects of the disclosed invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the spray can with the cap off according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear and top perspective view of the bottom and rear perspective view of the spray can of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the spray can of FIG. 1 with the cap on it;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the spray can body of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the spray can body of FIG. 4 with reference numbers for diameters of some elements of the spray can body;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the spray can body of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is another side view of the spray can body of FIG. 4 with a reference number for the height of the spray can body;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the spray can body of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front, right, and top perspective view of the actuator of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the actuator of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a top view of the actuator of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11B is a front view of the actuator of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the actuator of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the spray can cap of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 14 is a top view of the cap of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the cap of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is another side view of the cap of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the cap of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

Throughout the present description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “forward”, “rear”, and “rearward” shall define directions or orientations with respect to the spray can as illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms “upper”, “lower”, “top”, “bottom”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “forward”, “rear”, and “rearward” are intended to encompass different orientations of the spray can in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the spray can in the figures is turned over, elements described as “upper” elements or features would then be “lower” elements or features.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a spray can 20 is shown. The spray can 20 includes a can body 22, an actuator 24, and a cap 26 (FIG. 3). The can body 22 contains propellant, solvent, and paint inside it. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8, the spray can body 22 is generally cylindrical and includes an upper end 28 and a lower end 30. The lower end 30 (FIGS. 4 and 8) can be flat or slightly concaved. The upper end 28 includes an inner mounting recess 32 that is surrounded by a circular upstanding inner wall 34 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. A curved upper lip 36 (FIG. 2) that tapers inwardly is integrally formed on the upper end of the inner wall 34. An opening is formed in the recess 32 and receives a tube (not shown) that delivers the paint from the can body 22 to a nozzle 40 of the actuator 24. The upper end 28 also includes an outer wall 42 that surrounds an upwardly extending moat portion 44. The outer wall 42 also includes a curved upper lip 46 that tapers inwardly. The upper end 28 also includes a lower base 48 that the cap 26 fits upon as seen in FIG. 3. The diameter D1 (FIG. 8) of the can body 22 is 2 inches and the height H (FIG. 7) of the can body 22 is 7.56 inches. These dimensions and overall configuration of the can 20 help make the spraying of the can 20 more comfortable for the user. FIG. 5 illustrates that the outer wall 42 defines a cylinder with a diameter D2 of 1.80 inches and the inner wall 34 defines a cylinder with a diameter D3 of 1.10 inches.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9 through 12, the actuator 24 comprises a lower base 50, an actuator body 52, and the nozzle 40. The lower base 50 is generally a circular plate. The lower base 50 has a diameter D4 (FIG. 10) of 0.90 inches, which is slightly less than the diameter of the inner wall 34, so that it can fit inside the inner wall 34 and move up and down freely without contacting the inner wall 34. The actuator body 52 is located on the lower base 50 and integrally formed in one piece with the lower base 50. The actuator body 52 is generally triangular in shape and laterally extends to the periphery of the lower base 50. A groove or depression 54 (FIGS. 2 and 9) is formed in the top of the actuator body 52 for placement of a user's index finger. The groove 54 has a u-shaped cross section. The groove 54 also extends or slopes downwardly going rearwardly from the nozzle 40 as see in FIGS. 2 and 9. The groove 54 also tapers inwardly going in the forward direction towards the nozzle 40 such that the width of the groove 54 (including the width thickness of the edges of the groove) is 0.34 inches (D5 in FIG. 11A) at the front end 56 and 0.81 inches (D6 in FIG. 11B)) at the rear end 58. This dimension and configuration allows an index finger of a user to be placed inside the groove 54. Right and left sides 60, 62 of the actuator body 52 are straight or planar and located opposite each other. The right and left sides 60, 62 also taper or slant inwardly going in the forward direction. The rear corners 64 (FIGS. 2 and 9) of the actuator body 52 are chamfered. The nozzle 40 is mounted to a front side 66 of the actuator body 52 and is fluidly connect to the tube at location 67 (FIG. 12) that delivers the paint inside the can. The actuator 24 may be spring loaded.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 13 through 17, the spray cap 26 is shown. The spray cap 26 includes a pair of cut outs 68 on the lower end 70 on opposite sides. The spray cap 26 also includes a pair of tabs 72 located on opposite sides of the cap 26 that when depressed will allow the cap 26 to be removed from the can 20. The tabs 72 include ribs 74 (FIG. 13) to provide a good grip for the user. The cap 26 may be translucent as seen in FIG. 3. The cap 26 and actuator 24 may be made of plastic and the can body 22 made be made of a suitable metal.

The paint may be an Acrylic paint. In one example, the paint may be a metallic type paint and comprise 20-30 percent n-Butyle acetate, 10-20 percent Ethyl acetate, 3-5 percent aluminum, carbon black. Titanium dioxide, and Mica. In another example, the paint may be a gloss, satin, and matte type and comprise 10-20 percent n-Butyle acetate, 5-10 percent Ethyl acetate, 1-5 percent acetone, 1-5 percent Cyclohexanone, 0.5-1.5 percent 2-Butoxyethanol, carbon black and titanium dioxide. In another example, the paint may be a clear sealer type and comprise 10-20 percent n-Butyle acetate, 5-10 percent Ethyl acetate, and 1-5 percent acetone.

The propellant is Dimethyl Ether. There are other miscellaneous organic and inorganic pigments and additives and solvents.

The spray can 20 is produced using a traditional aerosol manufacturing process which involves filling the can 20 with paint and pressurizing the can 20 using the propellant (in this case, a DME propellant). In use, the user holds the can body 22 and places the index finger in the groove or depression 54 of the actuator 24 and presses down on the actuator 24 to spray the paint onto a surface. The user may use sweeping motions to spray the paint.

The configuration reduces the ergonomic strain of the user. The spray can provides a more ergonomic can and actuator combined with a premium quality paint. In particular, tests involved counting the number of times the user had to switch hands to continue spraying the spray can 20 comfortably. The spray can 20 of the present invention required only four switches compared to 15 switches from another product.

The contoured actuator 24 contributes to reduction in hand fatigue and improved comfort while using acrylic formula which would otherwise induce hand fatigue in order to fully deplete the bottle. The smaller diameter of the spray can 20 than that of other spray cans also helps in the reduction of hand fatigue.

The acrylic nature of the formula allows us to include fewer known toxins (no xylene, benzene, toluene). The propellant is derived for sustainable sugar cane instead of petroleum.

The present invention also use a full color label provided around the can body 22 between the upper end 28 and the lower end 30 with the label color matching the color of the paint to better communicate the color of the paint and prevent confusion of which color is in the can, because competitors typically color the cap only which can be easily misplaced.

Although various embodiments of the disclosed spray can have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An actuator for a spray can comprising: an actuator body, wherein the actuator body includes a front side and a rear side, wherein the actuator body includes a right planar side and a left planar side located opposite each other, wherein the right planar side and the left planar side slant inwardly going in a forward direction, wherein the actuator body includes a groove formed on top of the actuator body, wherein the groove tapers inwardly going in the forward direction, wherein the groove slopes downwardly and rearwardly; a base, wherein the actuator body is attached on the base; and a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is mounted in the front side.
 2. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator body includes rear corners, wherein the rear corners are chamfered.
 3. The actuator of claim 1, wherein the base is circular shaped.
 4. A spray can comprising: a can body; and an actuator, wherein the actuator is mounted on the can body, wherein the actuator comprises: an actuator body, wherein the actuator body includes a front side and a rear side, wherein the actuator body includes a right planar side and a left planar side located opposite each other, wherein the right planar side and the left planar side slant inwardly going in the forward direction, wherein the actuator body includes a groove formed on top of the actuator body, wherein the groove tapers inwardly going in the forward direction, wherein the groove slopes downwardly and rearwardly; a base, wherein the actuator body is attached on the base; and a nozzle, wherein the nozzle is mounted in the front side.
 5. The spray can of claim 4, wherein the can body includes an upper end, wherein the upper end includes an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall surrounds the actuator, wherein the outer wall surrounds the inner wall.
 6. The spray can of claim 5 further comprising a cap, wherein the upper end of the can body includes a lower base, wherein the cap fits upon the lower base.
 7. The spray can of claim 6, wherein the cap includes first and second tabs located on opposite sides of the cap, wherein the first and second tabs are configured to be depressed to enable removal of the cap from the base.
 8. The spray can of claim 7, wherein the cap includes first and second cut outs provided on a lower end of the cap and located on opposite sides of the cap.
 9. The spray can of claim 7, wherein the first and second tabs include ribs.
 10. The spray can of claim 4, wherein the can body contains a propellant, wherein the propellant is derived from sugar cane.
 11. The spray can of claim 4, wherein a height of the can body is 2 inches and a diameter of the can body is 7.56 inches.
 12. The spray can of claim 4, further comprising a full color label, wherein the label includes a color that matches color of the paint in the spray can.
 13. The spray can of claim 4, wherein the cap is translucent.
 14. The spray can of claim 4, wherein the actuator body includes rear corners, wherein the rear corners are chamfered. 